For patients with milder injuries, no obvious signs of joint instability, no combined injuries and a less demanding prognosis, doctors may recommend conservative treatment, which early on includes braking, rest, bandaging, icing, elevation of the affected limb, and anti-inflammatory and pain relief.
If after conservative treatment the patient recovers better knee function and meets the patient’s prognostic requirements, surgery is not required, but conservative treatment may carry the risk of complications or sequelae such as meniscal tears, articular cartilage damage, chronic knee pain, and knee osteoarthritis.